THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 165 and Article 192(1) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 of 28 November 1994 concerning arrangements for implementing the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 1(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
Protocol 31 to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (the ‘EEA Agreement’) contains provisions and arrangements concerning cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms.
(2)
It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to include Regulation (EC) No 401/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network.
(3)
It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the EEA Agreement to the field of sport.
(4)
Regulation (EC) No 401/2009 repeals Council Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European environment information and observation network which is incorporated into the EEA Agreement. The EEA Agreement should therefore be amended to take account of Regulation (EC) No 401/2009.
(5)
Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6)
The position of the Union in the EEA Joint Committee should be based on the attached draft Decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: